Scaffold construction



7 c.. R. URls SCAF'FOLD CONSTRUCTION 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1928 March 18, 1930.

March 18, 1930. c. R. URIS SCAFFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet: 2

Zlnib. :MWaZ/az o n S Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES cnnrsrornn'n B. ours, or

Los mourn s, canmom'vm SGAFI'OLID CONSTRUCTION Application filed September 26, 1828. Serial No. 808,463.

This invention relates to improvements in scaffold constructions such as are employed in constructing buildings.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved scafi'old construction, the parts of which may be easily, quickly and cheaply manufactured, and which may be easily and quickly assembled to form a scaffold and disassembled for transportation to other locations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold construction which can be assembled and disassembled without involving the waste of any material, and which when assembled will form a sturdy su port for workmen employed in the construction of the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scaffold construction, the parts of which are interchangeable so that 1n transporting the parts from place to place it is not essential that particular parts be selected in order to form the proposed scaffold to be uilt. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold having the above mentioned characteristics and which has provision-made for adjusting the platform or plank upon which the workmen stand while working on the building under construction, thus enabling the workmen to adjust the height of the platform so that they can work 1n the most convenient position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in perspective illustrating the manner in which the parts form-' ing the improved scafi'old construction are assembled,

Fig. 2 is a partial view in vertical section,

and may be considered as having--been taken 4 upon the line. 22 upon Fig. 1,illustrating the details of construction, v

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon theline 33 upon Fig. 2,

' nate similar partsthroughout,

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, parts I being broken away of one of the upright mem- ,bers forming a part of the improved scaffold construction,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, taken in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the view shown in Fig. 4 is taken.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the upright member shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section illustrating the details of construction of the adjustable clamp or support for the platform or plank adapted to be supported upon the improved scaffold, and may be considered as taken upon the line 7-7 upon Fig. 1,

' Fig. 8 is a part1 broken view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters desigscafl'old is adapted to be made up of a plurality of upright members 10 serving as corner posts. These upright members are preferably formed of pipe so that they will not only be cheap and strong but will be light in weight. The ends of the upright members are bifurcated as indicated at 11 and 12. The bifurcations 11 in the upright members are arranged in planes at right angles to the bifurcations 12. As clearly shown upon Figs. 4 and 5 the bifurcations 11 and 12 are slightly the improved Wider near their outer ends for substantially two-thirds of their length than at their inner ends. One or more apertures 13 may be formed in the upright members 10 near the inner ends of the bifurcations. These apertures serve to weaken the upright members near the inner ends of the bifurcations so that the ends of the upright members can be easily sprung or spread.

The ends of the upright members are receivable in coupling members 14, each of which is cylindrical in form having a uniform bore 15 throughout. The exterior surface of each coupling member is preferably provided with reinforcin flanges 16 arranged near the top, bottom and center so that the coupling members ma be made quite light in weight but still wi I be sufliciently strong. Each coupling member has two apertures formed to height and driven home they will force the horizontal proximately at right angles to eac vertical upright members. The a y are designed to receive the ends transverse through the apertures The wedges the bifurcations 1n the upright members.

therein indicated at 17 and 18 respectively. These apertures are arranged in anes apother so that they may be caused to register with the transverse passages provided b the bifurcations 11 and 12 in the ends 0 consecutive horizontal members 19 and wedges 20. The ends of the horizontal members 19 extend 18 and through the of the bifurcations. are also driven through the apertures 18 beneath the horizontal members 19 and pass through the narrow portions of outer or widened ends The wedges 20 are slightly tapered, both as width '50 that when they are members 19to the tops of the apertures and will also fit between the sides of the bifurcaf tions and spread the ends of the upright members within the coupling members thus rigidly1 fastening the upright members 19 toget er. The apertures 17 are adapted to receive, the ends of longitudinal horizontal members 21' and 22 arranged one above the other. The also receive wedges 23 which are similar 1n construction to the. wedges 20. Scaffold planking or a platform is adapted to rest on the horlzontal members 19, The ho'ri- 'zontal members are in height just twice as high as either of the longitudinal, horizontal members 19.

members 21 and 22. The wedges '20 and 23 are approximately equal in height to the hei ht of the members 21 and 22 and are just hal as high as the transverse horizontal By having the combined heights of the members21 and 22 just equal to the height or breadth of the horizontal members 19, it will be appreciated that the coupling members are interchangeable,-that is, it is immaterial which end of the coupling -member is positioned upper-most in assemright mem scribed manner one above the, other {by side, a scaffold of any maybe provided. Bracing may be also prosections of wire or steel cable.

edges vided as bywdiagonal tension members 24.

which may Two adjacent of the wedges 23 may be beveled ofi as indicated at 25 upon Fig. 2.

These beveled edges serve to accommodate: the ends of the tension members 24 so that when rtures .18

the wedges 23 are height or any lengthgreases the wedges 23 are driven home the ends of the cables 24 will be carried into'the coupling members with them thus tighteningthe ca- M65 and forming diagonal braces connect in outer coupling members. I

y virtue of the fact that the apertures 17 and 18 are equal in height and that the upright members, coup ing members and wedges are all alike, these parts can be freely interchanged so that no particular skill is ble them together andto scafiold. In the event that a longitudinal .member 2,2"is not used in conjunction with a longitudinal member 21 ,'two wedges 23 are placed back to back and driven into the apertures over the member 21 thus completely .occu ying the a erture 17 and connecting the mem r 21 to t e coupling member. Rings B may be mounted on the wedges so that when the wedges are driven out of the couf 5 required in selecting pro er parts to assem- 7 build the improved pling members in disassembling the scaffold the rings nia be grasped to" prevent the wed es from" opping. I

.T e upright members 10may be of any suitable length and in the preferred form of construction they may be from 8to '12 feet high. Plankingmay be placed'on the trans- "verse horizontal members 19 to form platforms at these various intervals. In many instances, however, it ishighly desirable to have a platform arranged at an intermediate level so that workmen on the scafiold upon the building under construction may work in the most convenient position.

' An adjustment is provided so that the platform may be formed intermediate the ends of the uprights 10. This adjustment-is provided by a type of clamp clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. T The clamp consists of a bracket 26 which is cylindrical in form and which may be formed out of sheet metal or strap 'iron.- This bracket is provided with parallel a supportin arm 28 is pivotally mounted. The arm 28 as an aperture in its outer end to receive the bolt 30 on which a wing nut 31 may be mounted. Acenter bracket 32- is .alsb'provi'ded, which sheet metal or stra iron; and this bracket, in the preferred orm of which has ears-33 adapted to be connected together by means of bolts 34 and 35. A supporting .arm 36 is pivotally mounted upon the bolt and has a slot 37 formed therein "through which bolt'30 extends. This arm carries a lip 38 on its 'ou'ter'end adapted to engage the bottom edge of arm 28 so as toprevent upward buckling of the twd} arms 36 and 28 about bolt 30 as the center. Each of the arms 28-and 36 has its upper inner corner rounded as indicated at 39 and 40 respectively. I

V The operation'of these adjusting clamps is may also be formed of of construction, is formed of two semi-cylindrical parts each as follows: The brackets 26 and 32 are first applied about their upright member 10. In the case of the bracket 26, this bracket must be applied to its u right member before the .suificient" clearance to permit the bracket 26 to slide freely. In a similar manner the bracket 32 after having been applied to its supportin'gpost can be adjusted and then held in adjusted position by causing its arm 36 to assume a horizontal position. The bracket 32, however, does not need to be applied to its upright member 10 before the application of the coupling members, as it is possible to loosen bolts 34 and- 35, removing the bolt 34. and thus spread the halves of the bracket enabling them to be positioned about the upright member, and the bolt 34 then replaced. When both of.the brackets 26 and 32 are applied their respective arms 28 and 36 are connected by bolt 30 on which is applied the wing nut 31. In this sition,

when the wing nut 31 is tightened the lip 38 prevents upward movement of the supporting arms 28 and 36. Downward movement of thesupporting arms is prevented by the 'lower, inner corners of the arms binding or pinching on the upright members. Planks can then be laid across these clamps and can thus be adjustably positioned between thetop and bottom horizontal members 19. As clearly shown on the left hand side of Fi 1, it is not necessary to use both parts of the .7 clamp. One part alone can be employed,

which slides up and down'upon its upright member until its arm is moved into horizontal position causing it'to bind .on the upright member and thus be held in adjusted position.

When a clamp employing both brackets 26 and 32 is employed and the two supporting arms are fastened together, it will be appreciated that the sup orting arms can not be swung downwardl eyond a horizontal position. Also the engagement of the lip 38 upon the bottom edge of the supporting arm 28 prevents their being swung upwardly. To unfasten the arms 28 and 36 to permit adjustment of the clamp or its removal the wing nut 31must be loosened-permitting the supporting arms to be moved laterally and thus cause the lip 38 to pass beneath the bottom edge ofthearm 28. After this is accomplished the arms can be swung upward- 1y so as to loosen the brackets 26 and 32 and permit their adiustment or removal.

The parts of the improved so fiold construction can not only be assem led easily and quickly as above described, but canv be easily and quickly disassembled so that they can be moved from place to place. In disassembling, the wedges are knocked out of the coupling members thus freeing the horizontal members and diagonal tension members which can be removed. Ordinarily, removal of the wedges allows the bifurcated ends of the upright members to spring back into their normal position so that they can be removed from the coupling members. However, if the ends of the uprightmembers have become set, causing them to stick in the coupling members, they can be contracted by hammering them with a hammer and punch through apertures 41 and 42 which are formed in the coupling members. A few strokes of the hammer applied to a punch inserted in these apertures will cause the ends of the u right membersto be contracted suflicient y so that they can be withdrawn from the coupling members.

From the above described construction it 1 will be appreciated that anovel scaffold construction is provided which is simple and durable. Furthermore, "by usin the improved scaffold construction there is no waste of lumber as the parts of the scaffold construction can be used over and over again in constructing other scaifolds. urthermore,

the parts are practically all int rchangeable so that sin constructing-a scafi old it is not necessary to select, particular parts which will only fit together with other parts at one place. 4

While the above described construction has been described as being used in constructing a scaffold it will be appreciated that it may be also employed in constructing an elevator shaft wherein the elevator is used for carrying materials to the top of the building under construction. It will be appreciated that a column of the scaffold as above described leaves a large square column of space through which the elevator may pass.

Various changes may be made in the princi ples of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

I claim:

1. A scaffold construction comprising upright members having bifurcated ends,- coupling members in which the-ends of the upright members are receivable, horizontal members for connecting the coupling members, and means receivable in the bifurcations of the ends of the upright members serving to spread them in the coupling members and thus cause said members to be held together.

2. 'A scaifold construction comprising up- I right members, coupling members-in which right members are receivable,

the ends of the upright members are receivable, horizontal members havin their ends receivable in the coupling mem ers and in the upright members, and means for causing the said members to be held together.

3. A scafiold construction com rising upright members having bifurcate ends, couplmg members in which the ends ofthe up-' A there being apertures formed in the coupling members adapted to be caused to register with the slots in the ends of the upright members, wedges receivable in said apertures to spread the ends of the upright members in the couplings to hold sai members together, and horizontal 1 members for connecting the coupling mem,-

bers.

4. A scafioldconstruction comprising upright members having bifurcated ends, .cou-' pling members in which the ends of the upright members are receivable, there being apertures formed in the coupling. members adapted to be caused to. register with the slots in the endsfof the upright members, wedges receivable insaid apertures to spread the ends of the upright members in the couplings to hold said members together, and

horizontal members 'for connecting the coupling members, sald horizontal members also having the1r ends receivable 1n said apertures. l

5'. A scaffold construction comprising .upright members having transverse passages formed in their ends, coupling members in which the ends of thefupright members are receivable, there being apertures formed through said coupling members, means adapted to be inserted through the apertures andpassages for causing said members to be held Y right members having transverse passages together, and. horizontal members for connectmg the coupling members.

6. A scafiold construction comprising upformed in their ends, coupling-members in which the ends'of the upright members are receivable, there being apertures formed through said coupling members, means adapted'to be inserted through the apertures and .through said coupling members,

ranged in planes atright angles to each other,

and horizontal members for connecting the couplingmembers; v 8. A scafiold construction comprising upright members having transverse passages formed in their ends, coupling members in which the ends oitithe upright members are receivable, there being apertures formed means adapted to be inserted through the apertures and passages for causing saidmembers to vbe held together, the transverse passages in the ends of each upright member being arranged in planes at right angles to each other and the apertures in each coupling member being arranged in planes at; right angles to each other,

and horizontal members for connecting the coupling members-'having'their ends receivable in said apertures and passages. J

9 ,A scaffold construction com rising up-' right members having their ends ifurcated,

members having their ends receivable in the. apertures and bifurcations, and wedges adapted to be driven into the apertures and bifurcations with the horizontal members for holding the horizontal members in place in the couplingmembers and spreading the ends of the upright members in the coupling members so as to lock them in place therein. In testimony whereof I have signed my 'name to this specification.--

CHRISTOPHE -12.1mm.

passages for causing said members to'be 'h'eldtogether, and horizontal members for con} necting the coupling members having their ends receivable'in said apertures and pasj'sa'ges, 7

' 7 A'scaflfold construction comprising uprightmembers having transverse passages formed in'their, ends, coupling members in which the ends of the upright members are ,receivable, there being apertures formed throu b said coupling members, means adapted to e' inserted through the apertures and passages for causing said members to be held together, the transverse passages in the ends "ofeach upright member being arranged in planes at rig t angles to each other and the apertures in eachcoupling memberbeing ar- 

